Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 1

206 msTOKT OF TIIF. HIGHLANDS.
Rhinns of Islay at this time belonged to tlie Clandonald, but they had
given the possession of them to the Clanlean for personal services. Sir
Lauchlan, thinking the present a favourable opportunity for acquiring an
absolute right to this property, offered to release Angus Macdonald,
provided he would renounce his riglit and title to the Rhinns; and, in
case of refusal, he threatened to make him end his ilays in cajitivity.
Angus, being thus in some degree compelled, agreed to the proposed
terms ; but before obtaining his liberty, he was forced to give James
Macdonald, his eldest son, and Reginald Mac-James, his brother, as
hostages, until the deed of conveyance should be delivered to Sir
Lauchlan.
It was not, however, the intention of Angus Macdonald to imple-
ment this engagement, if he could accomplish the liberation of his son
and brother. His cousin had suffered a grievous injury at the hands of
Sir Lauchlan Maclean without any just cause of offence, and he him-
self had, when on a friendly mission, been detained most unjustly as a
prisoner, and compelled to promise to surrender into Sir Lauchlan's hands,
by a regular deed, a part of his property. Under these circumstances,
his resolution to break the unfair engagement he had come under is not
to be wondered at. To accomplish his object he had recourse to a stra-
tagem in which he succeeded, as will be shown in the sequel.
After Maclean had obtained delivery of the two hostages, he made
a voyage to Islay to get the engagement completed. He left behind,
in the castle of Duart, Reginald Mac- James, one of the hostages,
whom he put in fetters, and took the other to accompany him on his
voyage. Having arrived in the isle of Islaj', he encamped at Eilean-
Gorm, a ruinous castle upon the Rhinns of Isla}', which castle had been
lately in the possession of the Clanlean. Angus Macdonald was re-
siding at the time at the house of Mulindry or MuUindhrea, a com-
fortable and well-furnished residence belonging to him on the island,
and to which he invited Sir Lauchlan, under the pretence of affording
him better accommodation, and providing him with better provisions
than he could obtain in his camp ; but Sir Lauchlan having his suspi-
cions, declined to accept the invitation. " Tliere wes (says Sir Robert
Gordon) so little trust on either syd, that they did not now meit in
friendship or amitie, bot vpon ther owne guard, or rather by messingers,
one from another. And true it is (sayeth John Colwin, in his manuscript,)
that thi islanders are, of nature, verie suspicious ; full of invention
against ther nighbours, by whatsoever way they may get them destroyed.
Besyds this, they are bent and eager in taking revenge, that neither
have they regaird to persone, tj'me, aige, nor cause ; and ar generallie
so addicted that way, (as lykwise are the most pairt of all Highlanders)
that therein they surpasse all otiier people whatsoever."
The refusal of Sir Lauchlan, to take up his residence at Mulindry,
did not prevent Macdonald from renewing his offer, which he pressed
very warmly, saying, that he would make him as welcome as far as he